Silent Majority Speaks

Rescuing Democracy in the United Kingdom from our current Elected Dictatorship

Spin, not face-to-face confrontations with the voters, is the Government's chosen method of communication. Ordinary people are dangerous. Ordinary people might ask a question which throws a politician 'off message'; the Cabinet member might reveal himself or herself to be a human being like us, and not a programmed android. Worse still, he or she might tell the truth. Ann Leslie - Daily Mail, September 16, 2004

 

WWW silentmajorityspeaks.com

Patients die as targets rule NHS, says doctor

Targets are hitting our patient care warn GPs

By Beezy Marsh - Health Correspondent, Daily Mail, September 24, 2004

Doctors yesterday called for a controversial Government target guaranteeing people an appointment within 48 hours to be scrapped, amid fears for patient care. GPs say they are forced to ban people from booking advance appointments in order to meet the target.

But angry patients have complained that the scheme- aimed at freeing up appointment slots - actually makes it more difficult for them to see a doctor, with many surgeries facing a morning rush of patients desperate to make appointments for that day.

Yesterday the Royal College of GPs warned that meeting targets had become more important than the care of patients. Together with the NHS Alliance - which represents Primary Care Trusts, the NHS authorities which must monitor the target at a local level - it called for an end to the 'tick box' culture.

A report for the college and the alliance, produced by Professor John Campbell of the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter, said the 48-hour target was 'too simplistic' for the complex needs of most GP surgeries. It warned of 'diminished quality of care' for patients who need it most, and extra demand on hospital services as desperate patients turn up in A&E instead.

Professor David Haslam, chairman of the Royal College, said "Targets, like medications, are often a good thing. I have little doubt that some of the targets set around access to general practice have had an impact for the good. However, as with medication, targets can have side effects, adverse effects that were not intended. As with medication, when it is clear that the side effects are doing harm, the medication - or the target - should be withdrawn."

He said the Government's target assumed that everyone wanting to see a GP has an acute illness which needs urgent attention, but many patients have on--going conditions which need monitoring, but do not need urgent care. Ministers say all GP practices should be implementing the target by the end of the year, and 98% of patients are now able to see a doctor within 48 hours.

But Dr Michael Dixon, chairman of the NHS Alliance, said that when his practice tried to ban booking advance appointments, there was a revolt by patients. "After ten days we have patients all but burning down the surgery," he said. "We are talking abut 48-hour access, but to what? Is it better, more appropriate services? Our patients are telling us loudly and clearly that too often that is not what they get."

Health Minister John Hutton last night defended the target, saying it had improved patient care He said: "Patients want to see their GP as quickly as possible - the target has helped ensure that this happens. The 48-hour target is therefore all about improving patient-centred care, because the longer a patient has to wait to see a GP, the more anxious they are likely to become. More than 98% of patients are now able to see a GP within 48 hours. That is a huge improvement on the situation we inherited in 1997, where only half of all patients were seen within this period."

 For the health of our democracy, we, the people of the United Kingdom, must find a way to force Mr Blair to resign

Mr Blair has lied and deceived us over Iraq. He must resign at once. Do you agree? Agree strongly Agree Disagree Disagree strongly Don't know Don't care Please click one of the links above to cast your vote Current results

Such defiance of the democratic process and the will of the majority of we people of the UK, must be exposed by voters as a matter or urgency, and not just in the two by-elections we have had this July and the European elections in June 2004. But how can this be done?

The most effective way of getting our deceitful PM to resign would be to mobilise the army of Labour MPs currently in the House of Commons and get them to demand it, the loss of their seat to be a penalty if they did not. All voters in Labour-held constituencies need to write a letter along these lines to their local Labour MPs:

Dear Despite his absolute and unequivocal assurances over the past year of the serious risk to our security of Saddam Hussein's 'weapons of mass destruction', Prime Minister Blair has admitted, that the threat was non-existent. For that critical error of judgement and for his gross incompetence in handling this very important issue, I ask you to take immediate steps to ensure that Tony Blair does the honourable thing and resign without delay.. I would therefore be much obliged if you would propose and help mobilise a Parliamentary vote of 'No Confidence' in Mr Blair which, despite Labour's huge majority, would leave the PM with no option but to resign. If I get no reply to this letter, I shall assume you will continue to support Mr Blair as our Prime Minister. In such circumstances I shall not vote for you in the forthcoming General Election. Signed:

Simple, non-violent, protest letters along these lines on a variety of issues could be the basis for re-vitalising our democracy and increasing voters' interest and participation in politics. Download a printable copy of the above letter here.

There is another way for the voice of the silent majority to be heard, a voice that made sure broken promises would not only be revealed, but punished in subsequent elections.

In the year available before the General Election expected in 2005, many topics are available as ammunition, each one asking questions.  A weapon for our purpose will be the results of Opinion Polls in individual  constituencies using ICM, NOP, Gallop, Mori  or YouGov.

Questions suggested for this purpose are listed here.

CAST YOUR VOTE ON A VARIETY OF OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES HERE.

Current and prospective Parliamentary candidates of all Parties running for election could share a platform at public forums in every constituency. They would be presented with  the results of polls on this issue expressed by the majority of voters in that constituency.

The candidates could be asked if their own views and that of their Party manifesto corresponded with the polls, and if not, how they intended to represent the will of the majority of local voters.  Local and National Press, Radio and TV coverage would be arranged and the results published on this web site.

Here is another powerful strategy for using your vote effectively in the forthcoming General Election. Send your sitting and prospective MPs a letter defining your requirements if they want your vote. This example deals with the proposed EU Constitutional Treaty.

Your letters would end: "If you do not answer this letter, I shall take it that you intend to follow the Government line. I shall act accordingly in the forthcoming General Election.

Or why not create a questionnaire that you send to all the candidates in your constituency, getting them to give yes/no answers to questions of your choice, and ending it with the same paragraph(above).

Download a printable example of the questionnaire.

It is high time for the people of this United Kingdom to stop allowing themselves to be manipulated by politicians. We need our representatives in Parliament to genuinely reflect the view of the majority in their own constituency, even if this means going against their personal and/or their party's policy. While they may argue their case, hoping to change the minds of the majority in their constituency, they should ultimately be obliged to reflect the majority view of those who elect them. 

It will be argued by politicians of all parties that most voters don't have the knowledge necessary to express an opinion on important subjects at issue, and that our vote is a form of delegated democracy. We should argue that it is their duty to ensure that we voters do have ready access to such information as is necessary to form an intelligent opinion. That, after all, is one main purpose of Opposition Parties in our Parliamentary Democracy.

Most important of all, such proceedings would rekindle in voters their latent interest and obligation to cast their vote, knowing that the candidate of their choice would be more likely to act in accordance with their wishes. A much higher turnout in elections would be the result.

Contact your local Party Chairman. Gain his support for setting up public forums in your constituency on these, as well as any other relevant topics, well before the next General Election expected in 2005. You should then, depending on the integrity of the candidate of your choice, feel fairly certain that your view on any subject being debated in Parliament will more accurately be reflected by your representative in that assembly.